Naar and Yeled; the difference

We asked why the Torah switches back and forth between calling Yishmael “yeled” – the child, and “na’ar” – the youth. (See pasuk 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20). Why? Perhaps Yeled is a general term, indicating only that he was born somewhat recently – he is not adult. The term Na’ar is more specific; indicating a stirring within him, a potential power and future. (See Ramban, Sforno in Sh’mos 2) Avraham saw Yishmael as a simply helpless child, without hope of surviving were he to be abandoned, and therefore referred to him as yeled. But Hashem saw him as the future nation of Yishmael, someone with an important future and mission, who would have help from above wherever he would be. And that’s why whenever Hashem talked of sending out the child he would call him na’ar, to indicate that he would be well cared for and protected.